Harvest dates in Burgundy: who decides?
Although harvesting in Burgundy generally begins in September, it’s the soil, vintage and grape variety that will first determine a domaine’s harvest start date. For a winegrower, this choice is crucial for his operation.
To determine this date, several techniques are available. The oldest involves tasting the berry… The winemaker takes the bunch in his mouth and crunches it so that the juice can escape. In this way, he can gauge the level of sugar and therefore alcohol! A traditional technique still practiced today.